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One of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s closest political confidants is advising her to veto a controversial refusal of service bill that has put the state again in the national spotlight.

“I’ve encouraged her to veto the bill,” said Chuck Coughlin, president of HighGround Public Affairs Consultants in Phoenix. Coughlin and partner Doug Cole managed Brewer’s 2010 campaign and are senior advisors to the Republican governor.

Coughlin also expects Brewer to veto Senate Bill 1062 later this week. “She vetoed the same bill last year,” Coughlin said.

The governor nixed that 2013 measure after telling legislators not to send her bills until after a Medicaid expansion was passed.

“I think history is a good indicator of future performance,” he said.

He said the governor plans on meeting with supporters and opponents of the measure and then will likely decide its fate Thursday or Friday. But he added the religious liberties issue is not one Brewer has listed as a major agenda item in her last year in office.

“This isn’t her priority,” Coughlin said

A number of business and political insiders said there is strong pressure on Brewer to nix Senate Bill 1062. The measure allows business owners to use their religious faith as justification for deciding whether or not to provide services to certain persons, or in other business decisions. It could also give them some more leeway if they are trying to opt out of government mandates they also think conflict with their religious beliefs.

“The demand that Arizona does not need another black eye in national circles is loud. I have been fielding angry calls all day from folks who had planned to come but will cancel if she does not veto the bill,” said Rick Kidder, president and CEO of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce.

Kidder and others expect Brewer to veto the bill, which was passed by the Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature and has backing from conservative Christian groups. Four leading contenders in the GOP gubernatorial primary have said they would veto the measure. State Treasurer Doug Ducey, who was the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery, said he would veto bill but try to find a middle ground when it comes to religious liberties.

“My guess, she follows her heart and vetoes the bill -- and takes a lot of hell from the far right for doing so,” said local publicist David Leibowitz, who notes Brewer went against conservatives last year when she pushed through a controversial Medicaid expansion.

Jay Thorne, CEO of Jay Thorne Inc. public affairs firm in Phoenix, said Republican candidates' opposition to the bill gives Brewer some more leeway to veto SB 1062.

Greater Phoenix Economic Council President and CEO Barry Broome also expects a veto. Broome said the refusal of service bill has lead to some companies threatening to not land jobs or expand here, and could delay progress on the initial public offering of a local firm.

Broome also worries about the potential impact the bad publicity could have on Valley hosting the National Football League's Super Bowl and other big events.

SB 1062 has support from social conservatives, including the Center for Arizona Policy. The group worries about government mandates that go against business owners' religious beliefs. It cites a New Mexico case where a Christian photographer was fined $7,000 for turning down a sex-same sex couple’s wedding ceremony.

Brewer has sided with CAP on issues such as abortion, but vetoed a similar religious liberty bill last year as well as a measure that would have given new property tax benefits to churches.

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